“Anybody can express an opinion on a blog or any other outlet and there’s no system of verification or double-checking, you just say whatever you want to and it gets magnified.”

That is exactly what I’ve said over and over on the Telegram’s message boards. Any time I refute some off-the-wall comment, I try to include some sort of attribution–something that backs up my point. That rarely happens with the tea party group. “Stuff” is just thrown out there and when a cite is requested, it’s usually answered with another off-the-wall comment.
Of course, “they” don’t trust my liberal links and I certainly don’t trust theirs. Therefore, ne’er the twain shall meet”.